MoCCA Fest Programming!
We’re pleased to announce final times, guests, and agendas for our panels and programs at MoCCA Fest this year. We have two buzzing floors of activity, that include downstairs panel discussions as well as our main exhibitor floor upstairs. Whether you’re perusing the show floor for your favorite finds, catching up on the latest with Gary Panter, or learning to make your very own accordion book, there’s something for everyone.

-And Families!
Don’t forget about our Kids Programming on Sunday morning; four devoted programs in a row, designed to be entertaining and fun for the whole family.
-Sunday April 29th, Kids Programs start at 9:30am. Families arriving to the Fest at 9:30am get a special price; $5 for children 6-12 (under 6 free, over 12 normal) with a paying adult.

Look below for a complete run of MoCCA Fest programming. Also, be sure to check out moccafest.org for news!

ROOM ASATURDAY

11:15 Kids Comics Sarah Couri (NYPL), Jorge Aguirre, P. Craig Russell, Matt Forsythe,
Colleen AF VenableYou know that old cliche about comics not being just for kids anymore? Well, thankfully some of them still are. The New York Public Library’s Sarah Couri talks to cartoonists who have ventured into world of kids comics and books.

12:15 A History of Comics Censorship
Alex Cox (CBLDF)The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Alex Cox takes you on guided tour of censorship in comics, from Frederic Wertham to Friendly Franks.

1:15 The State of Small Publishing
Heidi MacDonald (The Comics Beat), Box Brown, Craig Yoe, Barry MatthewsWhat’s it like running a small publishing company in 2012? The Beat’s Heidi MacDonald talks to an array of publishers about the state of print.

3:15 A Nordic Roundtable
Fredrik Strömberg (SE), Peter Madsen (DK), Kaisa Leka (FI), Bendik Kaltenborn (NO) and Mattias Elftorp (SE)The comics culture of northern Europe is brimming with energy, talent and innovation, among other things visible in the new anthology Kolor Klimax from Fantagraphics. Come and meet some of the Nordic artists present at MoCCA.

4:15 Harvey Pekar’s Final Projects
Jeff Newelt, Joy ce Brabner, Joseph Remnant , Rick Parker , Sean Pryor, Dean Haspiel, JD WaldmanCelebrating the life and work of comics pioneer Harvey Pekar with his widow, and writer in her own right, Joyce Brabner, joins a group of his artist collaborators.

3:15 Daniel Johnston in Conversation
Daniel Johnston, Brian HeaterJoin the idiosyncratic singer-songwriter for a discussion about his art, including his debut graphic novel, Space Ducks.

4:15 An Interview with Gary Hallgren
Gary Hallgren, Danny FingerothGary Hallgen, interviewed by Danny Fingeroth, discusses his career from his days as one of the creators of the notorious Air Pirates, through his illustration work for a zillion publications, from the NY Times and MAD through You: The Owners Manual.

1:15 Checklist for a New Comic: A Guide to Getting Started
Jess Abel, Matt MaddenIn this brief seminar, Jessica Abel and Matt Madden will walk you through the many considerations you should keep in mind when you embark on a new comic of any kind. Abel and Madden will help you strategize and come up with a working plan for your next project, and will cover: creative block and coming up with ideas; choosing a format and platform that makes sense; setting goals and scheduling your time so that you can reach them; finding an audience and looking for collaborators and/or publishers. So bring some paper and be ready to take notes on your next big (or small) project!

4:15 Big City Dare2Draw
Hosted by TJ Glenn & Charles D ChenetFeaturing dynamic figure drawing, with action poses, using props and, then, the signature “Quick Draw” Contests, with all art done on Blue Line Pro boards, for charity. Prizes provided by our sponsors. Dare2Draw is a non-profit, platform organization for artists, providing mentoring, networking and resources for artistic development, while encouraging goo d health and business practices for cartoonists and providing the opportunity to connect with each other, face-to-face.

ROOM BSUNDAY

9:30 Kids Program: Comics Are Awesome!
John Green (Teen Boat!)Learn how an idea in your head becomes a comic on a page. John Green and Colleen AF Venable will take you on a collaborative journey through the process of creating characters and stories for comics.

11:15 Workshop: Drawing with Rick Parker
Rick Parker (Beavis & Butthead, and Papercutz)Join cartoonist Rick Parker for an insightful, funny and hands-on workshop in cartooning! This workshop is great for cartoonists of all ages.

12:30 CCS Presents: The Expanding Comic Workshop
Robyn Chapman (Center for Cartoon Studies)If you think that a comic book is just a bunch of pages between two covers, think again! There is a wide variety of book making techniques that allow you to fold, flip, and turn your comics in unusual ways. Jon Chad, author of Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth, will team up with comics educator Robyn Chapman to introduce three unique book forms. Then the workshop participants will construct and illustrate their own expanding comic books!

2:00 A Discussion with Josh Neufeld and Shannon Wheeler
Josh Neufeld (A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge), Shannon Wheeler (Oil and Water, Too Much Coffee Man)These two creators interview one another about their work in comics, especially as it relates to their approaches documenting tragedy on the Gulf Coast.

4:00 Coming to America
Emma Hayley (Publishing Director, SelfMadeHero)Reporting on the flourishing UK and European comics scenes and the launch of a new graphic novel imprint in the US.

The Alternative Press Expo (APE), the country’s largest alternative and independent comics convention, unveiled today the cover of its 2011 Program Book featuring original art by special guest and Eisner Award–winning cartoonist Shannon Wheeler.

APE offers the free program book to each attendee. This comic book-sized publication features a complete rundown on the show, including a comprehensive list of exhibitors and a map of the floor, as well as a complete programming schedule. “Each year we are privileged to have one of our special guests design the cover. It gives each edition a unique character while showcasing the extraordinary talents of our guests,” remarked David Glanzer, APE spokesperson and director of marketing and public relations for parent company Comic-Con International. Wheeler won the Eisner Award in 1995 for his series Too Much Coffee Man and again in 2011 for his humor publication I Thought You Would Be Funnier from BOOM! Studios.

Previous years’ covers have featured art by such special guests as Paige Braddock, Keith Knight, Rich Koslowski, Lark Pien, and Gene Yang, to name a few. “Complete with a programming schedule and biographies of our special guests, this book is not only informative but also makes a great keepsake.” said Glanzer.

APE will be held October 1 and 2 at the Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th Street in San Francisco. APE is coming off its biggest year ever in 2010 with attendance topping 5,500. Advance tickets are $10.00 single day, $15.00 both days and can be purchased at the website.

At last it can be revealed! After months of planning and plotting – here it is. It’s the panel schedule for the 2011 Baltimore Comic-Con!

Update: We’ve listened to our fans and the costume contest has been rescheduled. It will now be held at 3:00pm on Saturday. Registration forms can be handed in near table #2403 in the main convention hall. With $1,000 up for grabs for the best overall costume and prizes for each of the 10 categories, this is one event all of you cosplayers don’t want to miss! For more information and a complete list of categories, visit our website’s Costume Contest page.

ROOM 301-303 (Saturday)

11:00-12:00 – Creating Your Comic/Manga from Concept to Publication – Husband and wife creators (and Harvey Award Nominees) Comfort Love and Adam Withers teach you how to create your own comic. The entire process – concepting, scripting, thumbnails, pencils, color, PDF’s and CBZ’s, printing, distribution, the web, and even maximizing your convention experience will be covered in this seminar. You will walk away with an understanding of the tools you will need to create and sell your own book.

12:00-1:00 – Spotlight on Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis & Kevin Maguire – Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire are the fan-favorite creative team behind Defenders, Metal Men, and Justice League. With stories that blend adventure and humor, their books are like no other. Join the men who put the “Bwah” in “Bwah-ha-ha” as they take a look at their work together.

1:00-2:00 – Spotlight on Charles Vess – The work of award-winning artist Charles Vess can be seen in such books as Sandman, Stardust, Rose, Book of Ballads and Sagas, and many others. Join Charles and moderator Terry Moore as they look at his art, his career, and what he’s working on now.

2:00 – 3:00 – A Conversation with Jeff Smith & Stan Sakai – Jeff Smith’s Bone celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo will soon reach its 200th issue. Now, these two talented creators sit down to discuss their work; from their beginnings to future plans. Join Jeff & Stan for what is sure to be a lively and fun look at the world of comics.

3:00-4:00 – Spotlight on the Legion of Super-Heroes – Travel with us to the 31st Century as we take a look at DC’s futuristic super team, The Legion of Super-Heroes! Join creators Keith Giffen, Mike Grell, Mark Waid, Barry Kitson, and Chris Roberson as they talk about the tales they’ve told in the Legion’s long and storied history. Long Live the Legion!

4:00-5:00 – Spotlight on Shannon Wheeler – From stapling 21,000 mini-comics to shooting a comic book to writing an opera to doing cartoons for The New Yorker – Shannon Wheeler has just gotten started in his career in comics. Recently his collection of rejected New Yorker cartoon I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER won the Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication and is up for a Harvey this weekend. Join Shannon Wheeler and his trusty sidekick BOOM! Studios Marketing Director Chip Mosher as they look back on Shannon’s meteoric rise and fall in comic books. Oh, yeah! Wheeler also created TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN.ROOM 307 (Saturday)

11:00-12:00 – Visionary Enters the Deadlands – Join Visionary Comics and their all-star roster of creators who launched Deadlands from Image this summer. Join Ron Marz, David Gallaher, Steve Ellis, Jimmy Palmiotti, Lee Moder, and Visionary’s own C. Edward Sellner as they reflect on the weird west revival in comics and Deadlands. Look for exclusive announcements on Deadlands: Year 2.

12:00-1:00 – Top Cow: We Create… – Join Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik along with Top Cow architect Ron Marz and Echoes writer Joshua Hale Fialkov for a colorful & lively look at the last year of Top Cow releases and what the coming year has in store for Artifacts, Pilot Season, Witchblade, The Darkness, Magdalena and much more! Plus every attendee will receive a FREE gift just for attending!

1:00-2:00 – BOOM! 6th Anniversary panel – Join BOOM! Studios Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ross Richie as he pulls the curtain back on BOOM! Studios. From an upstart one-book-a-month publisher debuting in 2005 to 2011’s powerhouse comic publisher, BOOM! Studios has had one of the most meteoric rises of any comic publisher in the last twenty years. Find out what makes this company tick as Ross reminisces about the early days at BOOM! and its current success. A one-of-a-kind panel for all those that want to know the real story behind the success of BOOM! Studios.

2:00-3:00 – Marvel Universe – Wondering what’s up with the X-Men? Thinking of visiting Spider Island? Curious about the future of Daredevil? Just plain want to know what’s up with the Marvel Universe? Then this is the place for you! Join Marvel Architect Jason Aaron, Mark Waid, Barry Kitson, Paul Tobin, and Tom Raney as they explore the wonders of all things Marvel!

4:00-5:00 – DC: The New 52 – DC shocked comic fandom when they announced they were relaunching the DC Universe with 52 new #1 titles. Wondering what’s on the way? Want to know more about those books? Join creators Greg Capullo, Scott Snyder, Jimmy Palmiotti, Cully Hamner, David Finch, and Francesco Francavilla as they take a look at DC’s New 52.

ROOM 301-303 (Sunday)

11:00-12:00 – Comics Jukebox: All-Ages Comics in the Digital Age – Digital, web, & downloadable comics are a growing trend in the medium, but where do kids comics stand in this arena? Creators John Gallagher and Steve Conley moderate over a panel of experts, including Dan Parent (Archie), Steve Hamaker (Bone, Fish & Chips), Mike Maihack (Cleopatra in Space!), Rich Faber (Roboy Red!) and Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts, Superhero Squad). Those in attendance will get a special card allowing them to download a FREE Exclusive BUZZBOY story from John Gallagher, and one person will win the opportunity to make a cameo appearance in “Leon, Protector of the Playground,” the new all-ages graphic novel by Jamar Nicholas.

Anyone wanting more info can go to the Comic Book Diner All-Ages Pavilion

12:00-1:00 – Spotlight on Ron Frenz – Ron Frenz’s art is well known to fans of Spider-Man, Thor, Spider-Girl (whom he co-created), Superman, and many, many others. We shine the spotlight on Ron in this panel that takes a look at his impressive body of work and where he’s headed in the future.

1:00-2:00 – Going Digital: Day and Date, and what you need to know – With Marvel announcing their same-day-strategy and DC distributing their entire line starting August 31st to provide you with their acclaimed line of comics the same day digitally as they come out in print, you need to make sure you are prepared. With almost everything you want on demand or deliverable to your door, why should your comics be any different? Marvel and DC, with the help of comiXology have created a digital comics experience that puts the power back in your hands to enjoy your favorite comics on demand. Your comics, when you want them, where you want them.

Come join John D. Roberts, Co-founder of comiXology, who will lead our panel as we explore the new digital horizons together.

2:00-3:00 – CBLDF: Censorship Then & Now – Earlier this year the Comics Code Authority closed its doors forever, ending an era of self-censorship where comics were stigmatized in the general culture. Though the threats that brought about the Comics Code are the stuff of history books, real threats to comics are still present in the courts in the United States and abroad. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein delivers a gripping history of comics censorship from the 50s to today, and talks about life after the Code.

3:00-4:00 – Avatar Press: News and Q&A – Here’s your chance to meet the creative minds behind Avatar Press, the industry’s most ground-breaking, risk-taking publisher! Hosted by marketing director, Keith Davidsen, this panel features Mike Wolfer, whose creepy storytelling terrified readers of books like Night of the Living Dead, Lady Death, and War Goddess, and whose visceral illustrations brought to life Garth Ennis’ highly anticipated Stitched comic book series. Find out what new terrors this rogue publisher will unleash in the months ahead, and get your questions answered!

ROOM 307-308 (Sunday)

11:00-12:00 – DC Sunday Conversation – All are welcome to join in a relaxed Sunday morning discussion. Share your thoughts, or be enthralled, as the group shares their stories and love for this medium.

12:00-1:00 – Insight Studios – Meet Baltimore’s very own legendary creators of some of comic-dom’s most explosive stories and art with this amazing retrospective – and new announcements of projects! Focusing on Marc Hempel, Robert Tinnell, and Mark Wheatley, get an insider’s perspective on their inner-workings as artists and writers. Moderator, Mike Gold highlights the diversity and originality of these very different creators.

1:00-2:30 – Frank Cho Live Drawing Demonstration – Watch and be amazed as Frank Cho creates a drawing masterpiece right before your eyes. Audience will suggest one character, one action, one setting and Frank Cho will draw it in one hour on stage. The original art created by Frank Cho will be raffled off at the end of the drawing demonstration. Raffle tickets available at Frank Cho’s booth.

3:00-4:00 – Stan Lee Spotlight – Face Front, True Believers! This is a panel no comics fan will want to miss as Jimmy Palmiotti sits down with the one and only Stan “The Man” Lee! He is a Founding Father of the Marvel Universe and the face of Marvel Comics to legions of fans. Join the writer, editor, actor, and legend as he discusses his illustrious career. Excelsior!

The Eisner Awards are the highest honor in comics, and before the winners are announced at Comic-Con International later this summer, 2011 Eisner Award nominees and Portland residents Greg Rucka, Barry Deutsch, Laura Hudson, and Shannon Wheeler head to Powell’s Books (3723 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR) to sign books and have a panel discussion about comic books and the Portland comic scene. We hope you’ll stop by!

Barry Deutsch: Cartoonist of “Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword,” yet another story about a troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl, nominated for Best Publication for Teens.

Laura Hudson: The editor-in-chief of the AOL blog ComicsAlliance, nominated for Best Periodical/Journalism.

Greg Rucka: Writer of “Stumptown,” a hard-boiled private eye comic set in Portland, and the story “Post Mortem” from Marvel’s “I Am an Avenger.” Nominated for Best Limited Series and Best Short Story respectively.

Shannon Wheeler: The creator of Too Much Coffee Man and New Yorker contributor presents his Eisner-nominated book of New Yorker rejects “I Thought You Would Be Funnier” in the Best Humor Publication category.